Rev. William John Zimmerman

1873 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	William John Zimmerman
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	13 May 1873	Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1901	Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Minister
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-84264
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I84264	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

• Photos

  Rev. William John Zimmerman 1903

  
  

• Notes

  Rev. W. J. Zimmerman, the recently installed minister of the Evangelical Association of Elmira, was born in Tavistock, Ont., after having attended the public schools there, he went to Napierville, Ill., where he passed 5 years at the Evangelical College. After graduation he returned to Canada and had charge of the Hespeler Evangelical Congregation, one year. His next charge was Elmwood, where he labored 2 years prior to coming to Elmira. Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, published by George Klinck, 1903. _______________________ Bridgeport United Church Evangelical Association Begun: 1876 The early Evangelical Association congregations in Berlin and Waterloo date back to August 1839 when a Camp Meeting was held over a number of days at David Erb's farm (Lot 7, German Company Tract) at Lexington. Classes (or congregations) in Berlin and in Waterloo were organized at that meeting by Bishop John Seybert - on August 29th. Twenty-six charter members were divided into the two classes. Class leader for Waterloo and vicinity was Jacob Hoffman. His brother, John, was class leader for Berlin. The Waterloo class, along with classes at Lexington and Breslau, was connected to the Berlin Mission until the organization of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Association in 1864. The Waterloo Mission was formed at that time. In 1866 the Breslau class was merged with the Lexington class and in 1876 the Lexington class, with 31 members, was referred to as the Bridgeport class for the first time. An old log schoolhouse was purchased in 1879 for $500.00 on condition that it be used only for Sunday School services, not for preaching. The exterior walls were covered with lumber and the building was dedicated on November 9, 1879. A new white brick church was built ten years later, in 1889, when the old schoolhouse became inadequate for the growing congregation. This church was in use until 1934 when the present building was completed. A decision had been made at a congregational meeting in July 1933 to proceed with construction of a new church. The ground-breaking service was held on August 28, 1933 and on October 1 of that year the cornerstone was laid by Rev. W.J. Zimmerman. Dedication services were held in the new red brick church on Sunday March 18, 1934. In 1942 the old brick church was sold to Mr. Minnacker for $100. An addition which was built on to the west side of the church in 1958 provided additional space for the Sunday School, as well as offices and a kitchen. The new complex was dedicated on November 30, 1958 with Professor John F. Schaefer of Naperville, Illinois preaching the dedication sermon. Bridgeport and Waterloo were a joint parish from 1876 until 1910, when Bridgeport was joined with Strasburg. This association lasted until 1914 when Bridgeport called its own full-time pastor. The Evangelical Church joined with the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. On January 1, 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren joined with the United Church, Emmanuel's name was changed once again - to Emmanuel United Church. In February 1987 the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Bridgeport United Church. Rev. J. Kaechele (1864-1865) was pastor in 1864 when the Waterloo Mission was formed; Solomon Kraft was the Bridgeport class leader when the schoolhouse was bought in 1879 and Rev. S.R. Knechtel (1888-1891) was pastor in 1889 when the new white brick church was built. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose

  
  

• Sources

  [S143] Census - ON, Waterloo, Hespeler - 1901, Hespeler (Village) D-1 Page 17. [S1139] Enterprising Elmira Souvenir, An historical, descriptive, and illustrated Book of the Village of Elmira, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada. Rev. W. J. Zimmerman, Evangelical Association, born in Tavistock; pastored in Hespeler, then Elmwood, then Elmira.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 13 May 1873 - Tavistock, East Zorra Twp., Oxford County, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Minister - 1901 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth